Gillingham manager Mark Bonner isn’t finished in the transfer-market yet.
The signing of Euan Williams on Wednesday was Gillingham’s seventh since the end of last season but Bonner believes they need more.
EFL clubs have until Friday, August 30 (11pm) to trade contracted players and the Gills still need more, says Bonner.
He said: “We have got a long way left in the window and there is still plenty of time to do that, let’s see.
“The window being open in the first month (of the season) means ‘see how you go, do you feel you need to add somewhere?’
“Obviously, if injuries occur in that first month while you have the opportunity to do something you can. Touch wood it doesn’t happen but the opportunity is there if it does.
“We still need to strengthen. If we want to be a top team we have to be a stronger squad, a stronger team.”
Gillingham still have a handful of players injured, including in the forward areas, which means Williams and former Enfield Town player Marcus Wyllie could get a chance to impress.
Wyllie has stepped up to full-time football for the first time while newcomer Williams will be pushing for first-team football, something he didn’t get at former club Charlton.
Bonner said: “The challenge is there for everyone, ‘earn your shirt and then keep it but contribute to winning teams first. Start games strong but if you’re not in it then help us finish strong.’ It is a great challenge for a squad of players.
“(There is) a lot of football to be played. I am sure we can add more over the next month and if something comes up that helps us be better then we’ll do that.”
The Gills signed four players shortly at the end of last season before moving into what they called “phase two” where’s it’s largely been one in-one out.
Scott Malone, Dom Jefferies and Ashley Nadesan have departed. Oli Hawkins and George Lapslie are both still involved at the Gills despite having been made available.
Williams, an attacking midfielder, will now hope to muscle in after earning a deal while on trial over the summer.
Bonner said: “Euan can’t have done more than he did on trial to earn his further opportunity to contribute to the team, that’s his next challenge: ‘Can he contribute to matchday squads and teams?’ He certainly did great in pre-season.
“You can see in our recruitment, there are people that are (considered to be) nailed on, have to be starting, then some that are potential players who could do really well or us. He is certainly in that bracket.
“He is a really talented boy but there is a big difference between academy, youth football and first-team but he has lots of the tools to contribute.
“He can play a couple of positions so hopefully in the next couple of months we start to see him develop into someone who can make us better.”
Bonner will look on with interest at how the squad develops as the season progresses.
He said: “The lads have been good and it helps that a lot of them were here last year.
“It seems there is a strong dressing room and a group of lads that are working hard and want to do well with personalities that want to improve.
“But I am only judging that in this lovely period called pre-season.
“We will see what the character and the personality of the team is when it gets tough, when it matters most, when we lose a game, when we make a mistake on the pitch, whether we have the cojones to go and play properly and do what we need to do.
“The personality of the team will be measured in the next couple of months as we try to become the team we talk about wanting to be.
“I think we have some talented players, some hard working players, players buying into what we want and it seems a good team spirit, but spirit is tested when the whistle blows.”
